Posted on 05/28/2004 6:39:37 AM PDT by FourPeas
GENEVA (AP) — One person dies from a tobacco-related disease every 6 1/2 seconds, the head of the U.N. health agency warned Friday ahead of its annual World No Tobacco Day.
"This is occurring mostly in developing countries, adding significantly to their burden of disease and poverty," said Lee Jong-wook, director-general of the World Health Organization. "The world cannot accept such easily preventable human and economic losses."
Tobacco use kills 4.9 million people annually, and that figure is expected to double in the next 20 years.
Many governments organize events every May 31 to commemorate World No Tobacco Day, meant to spotlight the fight against smoking-related illnesses.
Although WHO often holds anti-tobacco events at its Geneva headquarters, it doesn't plan any this year. Monday is a Swiss national holiday, and U.N. offices here will be closed.
WHO studies have long found that poorer people tend to smoke more in both developing and developed countries. They spend a higher proportion of their household income on tobacco products, often ahead of other basic needs such as food, health care and education.
"Consumption is inversely related to the socio-economic level — it goes up as the standard of living goes down," Lee noted.
The number of tobacco users is still increasing and is expected to hit 1.7 billion in 2025, up from the current 1.3 billion.
Smoking is particularly widespread in developing countries, where 84 percent of smokers live. It places a huge burden on health services in countries which can ill-afford the extra cost.
In Egypt, WHO said, the annual cost of treating tobacco related diseases is estimated at US$546 million.
WHO said tobacco can also damage countries' economies because of increased health care costs; loss of foreign exchange, as most countries are net tobacco importers; loss of tax revenue due to smuggling; and damage to the environment from tobacco cultivation.
"I urge everyone to think of how we can help to break the vicious circle of the poor consuming tobacco more, and tobacco consumption increasing poverty," Lee said. "Everyone can contribute to curtailing the production and use of tobacco products."
Even tobacco farmers — particularly those in developing countries — are not benefiting from tobacco sales.
"A big part of the health and economic costs related to tobacco are endured by small farmers and their families that grow the tobacco crop," said Catherine le Gales-Camus, the WHO noncommunicable diseases chief.
Lee also urged more countries to sign up to WHO's landmark anti-tobacco treaty, which aims to direct policies to reduce the damage tobacco does to health and economies. WHO brokered the treaty in May 2003, after years of negotiations.
Of WHO's 192 member states, 118 — including the United States — have already signed the accord. Sixteen have ratified it, although U.S. lawmakers have not yet done so.
"Once the convention comes into force — 90 days after its 40th ratification — it will become a powerful means of controlling this entirely unnecessary threat to health and welfare," Lee added. "Countries should lose no time in signing and ratifying the convention."
Countries have until June 29 to sign the treaty, which also sets out provisions and minimum standards signatories will have to respect in their tobacco control programs.
The UN has killed more people by inaction than tobacco ever has. (sarcasm)
Even if this preposterous claim from a dubious source (the UN) is true, so what? People make life choices. To smoke or not is one of them. It isn't like they haven't heard that smoking is bad for you. If an adult makes the choice that the benefits outweight the disadvantages that's their business. After all, everyone dies of something. It isn't as though if you don't smoke you'll live forever.
Granted the UN's body count isn't as high as Big Tobacco's, but they're getting there.
And just think, the US provides 22% of the UN's core budget. Isn't that just swell?
We need to curtail our 22 percent, pronto.
Oh, the humanity!
This translates into about 4.85 million "tobacco-related deaths" per year throughout the world, or 0.081% of the world's population.
In a related story, a Freeper named Alberta's Child noted that 100% of the world's population was going to die of some cause.
"We must do whatever it takes to eliminate this hideous, lethal threat to humanity," he agonized.
So, from what I gather from the media, the majority of poor people:
1. Are obese and can't afford to be thin and will die.
( http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2004-05-02-diet-cover_x.htm )
2. Smoke more and will die.
3. Spend more on smoking than on health care and food so their children will die.
Sounds like between the two an entire class of people will eventually be wiped out, leaving only the middle and upper class. Then no one would be left to vote for Kerry.
U.N. News Flash: Death Kills People Seconds Apart. Women and Minorities Hardest Hit.
Who is it?
Will they ever get fed up enough to stop?
Thanks for the great link!!!!
To Kofi Annan with love,Bart
ROFL!
You'd think if anyone went on the patch it would be that one poor slob that keeps dying ;-)
Bart certainly has a way with words ;-)
Swelled.
hehe ! :^)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
